Pen-rack.



No. 642277. Patented lan. 30, I900. J. ADAIR.

PEN BACK.

A i'cation mea June s, 1899. (Ilo Model.) 2 shesh-Sheet l.

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WITNESSES: INVENTOR,

THE sumus PEYERS co.. FHOTO-LITHQ. WAsHINGTON. D. a

No. B ll-2,277. Patented lan. 30, !900.

J. ADAI'P. I

PEN BACK.

(Application filed .Tuna 18, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Att'y.

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MlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ADAIR, OF LEET, PENNSYLVANIA.

PEN-BACK.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 642277, dated January 30, 1900.

Application filed Tune 13, 1899.

To all whom it may 0072007 72:

Be it known that LJAMESADAIR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leet township, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Pen-Racks, of which improvenents the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in pen-racks, and has for its object the detachable securing of the clamping fingers or coils to a base and the holding of the coils or fingers in proper relation to each other and as against any rocking movement on the base.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a top plan View of my improved pen-rack. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 3 an end elevatioi', of the same. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 5 a transverse sectional elevation,illustrating a modified Construction of the base. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 7 is an end elevation, of a modification in the manner of connecting the fingers to the clamping-bar. Figs. S and 9 are Views similar to Figs. 6 and 7, illustrating a modification of the structure shown in said figures; and Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the fingers and clamping-bar, illustrating a further modification. In the practice of my invention the base 1 is formed of any suitable naterial, preferably of glass. In the top of the base is formed a V-shaped groove2, forming aseat for the fingers 3, which are forned of a series of spiral Wire coils. These ngers are held in the seat in the base by a clamping-bar 4, passing through the coils forming the fingers. The ends of this bar are constructed in a suitable manner to be detachably secured to the base-- as, for example, by forming hooks 5 on such projecting ends, said hooks being adapted to engage recesses 6, formed in the ends of the block or base. ln order that the clampingbar may have a firm grip on the block and may be easily detached without distortion of the bar or hook, the bar is made of resilient material, so as to readily yield or bend, and the resilient or spring action of the hook may be increased by bending eyes 9 at the points of junctiou of the hooks With the bar.

In order to eifect a separation of the fingers or their uniform distribution along the base or block, a series of two or more t'ansverse ribs 7 are formed on the sides of the V-shaped groove 2 in the top of the base or block. These ribs maybe form ed, as shown in Figs.1,2, and 3,011 the surfaces of the walls of the groove 2 or by cutting away or depressin g the walls of the longitudinal groove, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Two of these ribs are so located adjacent to the ends of the blocks as to project between the first and second fingers at each end of the series, thereby properly spreading or separating the fingers. One or more intermediate ribs engage or project between intermediate fingers to limit the lateral movement of the fingers When au article is placed between them. This limitation of movementis desirable, as when only the ends are held and an article is placed in the rack the intermediate fingers will yield to such an extent that the article will not be firmly gripped. By the employment of the intermediate ribsprincipally the fingers between two ribs will yield When an article is placed in the rack. In some cases one or two intermediate ribs will eiect a sufficient limitation of lateral movement of the fingers; but a greater nunber of ribs may be employed, and in some cases it maybe de sii-able to provide a lateral brace or stifener for each finger, as shown in Fig. 4.

In order to prevent an axial movement of the fin gers orcoils, balls or heads 8 are fol-med on the ends of the coils, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5,said enlargements being sufficiently large to prevent their passage under or through the clamping-bar.

In order to provide a convenient means for withdrawing the hooks 5 from the recesses (i, a handle or fiap 11 may be attached to the hooks in any desirable manner-as, for eX- ample, by means of a sleeve 10, 'formed inte gral with the llap or handle and surrounding the hook, as shown in Figs. G and 8.

As shown in Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive, the extension of the coil or the separation of the fingers may be effected by securing the end fingers or coils to the clamping-bar. The connection of the end fingers to the bar may be effected in many ways-as, for example,

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by forming eyes 9 in the bar adjacent to the hooks and passing the ends of the coils through such eyes, the ends of the coils 'being held from withdrawal from the eyes by enlarging the projecting ends, or by securing balls 8 thereon, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, or the coils and the clamping-bar inay be formed from a single piece of wire, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In such Construction the end portions 'of the coils and bar which form the hook 5 nay be twisted together, as shown to the right in Fig. 8, or they may be bound together by the sleeve 10, forming a part of the flap or handle ll, as shown to the left in Fig. 8. The flap affords a convenient handle for the Withdrawal of the hook from the recess 6. A desira-ble means for securing the ends of the coil to the clamping-bar is shown in Fig. 10, and consists of aiball S having slotsor perforations at right angles to each other for the reception of the clamping-bar and at the ends of the coil. These parts are firmly sec ured in position by closing the Walls or grooves against the wires.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 9, the bracing-ribs 7 may, when desired, be used for limiting the lateral movements of the intermediate fingers in connection with that Construction in which the end fingers are attached to the clampingbar.

I claim herein asmy invention-' 1. In a pen-rack, the combination of aseries of coils, a base provided With one or more transverse ribs for limiting the lateral movement of the coils, and a clamping-bar eX- tending through the coils and having its ends connected to the base, substantially as set forth.

2.' In a pen-rack, the combination of aseries of coils, .a su pporting-base, means for holding the coils spread or distributed along the base,

and a clamping-bar passing through the coils i and connected to the base, substantially as set forth'.

3. In a pen-rack the combination of a series of'coils, a' supporting-base, and a clampingbar extending through the fingers or coils and connected to the end coils and constructed to be Secured to the base, substantially as set forth.

t. In a pcn-rack, the combination of a series of coils, a base or support having transverse ribs intermediate of the ends, and a clampingbar provided at its ends with hooks adapted to cngage the supporting-base, substantially as set forth.

5. In a pen-rack, the combination ofa series of coils, a: baseor support, and a clampingbar extending through the coils and having its ends connected to the base, the ends of the coils being provided With knobs or enlargements adapted to engage the clampingbar, substantially as set forth.

6.' In a pen-rack, the combination of'a base provided With recesses, a series of coils arranged on the base, a clamping-bar provided with hooks adapted to en gage the recesses in the base, and a sleeve provided with a fiap or handle surrounding the hook, substantially as set forth.

7. In a pen-rack, the combination of a base, a series of coils arranged on the base, and a resilient clamping-bar provided with hooks adapted to engage recesses in the base, substantially as set forth.

8. In a pen-rack, the com binatioi of a base, a series of coils arranged on the base, a clamping-bar and hooks having resilient connection to the clamping-bar, and adapted to engage recesses in the base, substantially as set .forth.

JAMES ADAIR.

Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WOLCOTT, F. E. GAITHER. 

